Ibadan Obaship Tussle To Be Settled Out Of Court Soon

The apex socio-cultural organization in Ibadanland, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, is confident that the lingering chieftaincy dispute triggered by the installation of 21 new obas by the Oyo State government will soon be settled out of court judging by the ‘cooperation and enthusiasm’ of the contenders in its reconciliation efforts.

The President of the CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye, expressed the confidence in an interview with journalists shortly after leading a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to a meeting with the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Friday.

He was upbeat that an amicable resolution, which, he said, would produce no victor nor vanquished was in the offing in the avowed determination of the CCII and respected elders of the land to end the impasse.

The CCII president said that the TRC would round off its troubleshooting efforts by the end of January and make recommendations, which he said would be satisfactory to the parties concerned.

He said that member ship of the TRC, which is being coordinated by the CCII, included representatives of the elders of the land, religious bodies, retired military officers, recognized mogajis, authentic mogajis and a former Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, had instituted a court action against the state government following the installation of the 21 Obas by the governor; an action, which, he said, did not follow the due process and tradition.

At the Friday’s meeting with the governor were the leaders of the authentic mogajis, Chiefs Olawale Oladoja and Abass Oloko, who have been the arrowheads of the opposition against the installation of the new obas and have been speaking in support of the Olubadan.

Also in attendance were the representatives of Ibadan Elders and retired military personnel on the TRC, Chief Lere Adigun and Gen. Raji Rasaki, respectively.

Soladoye said, “We are happy that all the stakeholders in the matter have seen the need to embrace peace. Judging by the progress we have made so far in the TRC, I can assure you that the matter will soon be settled out of court judging by the cooperation and enthusiasm of the parties.

“We have extracted a firm promise from those concerned on the need to withdraw all the court cases in the overall interest of Ibadanland. We are doing everything possible not to jeorpadise the reconciliation process, hence all the stakeholders have been included in the TRC.

“We have advised the contenders to stop issuing inflammatory statements capable of dragging back the hand of the clock. You will recall that there had been threats and counter-threats by the 21 obas and the authentic mogajis in recent times.

“We have no doubt that the issue will soon become history. In the end there will not be no victor nor vanquished. We are meeting with all the stakeholders and we deemed it appropriate to meet with the governor first. We are happy that he is keen on seeing the matter resolved amicably.”

The CCII said that the attendance of the authentic mogajis at the meeting with the governor should send a positive signal to the people that the TRC was making appreciable progress that would soon bear fruits.

He was upbeat that none of the stakeholders would be dissatisfied or still feel embittered at the end of the reconciliation efforts.